Written by Don ByrdThe 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals is considering a challenge to the inclusion of a cross in a museum display that is being built partially with public funds. The national memorial museum commemorating Ground Zero of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, is scheduled to open this Spring with a cross-shaped beam from the wreckage that became a religious symbol for many.
Written by Don Byrd
Written by Don ByrdA Jewish police officer’s Free Exercise rights were violated when he was fired by the New York Police Department for refusing to shave his beard in conformity with regulations. Fishel Litzman adheres to the Orthodox Jewish tradition that prohibits him from cutting his beard. While the NYPD provides religious accommodations to its grooming requirement, the apparently unwritten policy allows beards no longer than 1 millimeter. Litzman was denied an accommodation, and ultimately fired after he refused to shave.
In a ruling Friday, a trial court judge ruled the action violated Litzman’s religious freedom rights under the First Amendment.
Written by Don ByrdLegislative prayer may be the most controversial church-state issue today. Supporters of unchecked government prayers opening public meetings argue government invocations are free speech and free religious exercise protected by the First Amendment. They reject any solution that would place any limitation on government prayers as in improper intrusion of government into religious matters. Opponents of such a practice – like the Baptist Joint Committee, which filed a brief in the case – argue government prayers improperly promote and endorse religious views and potentially coerce or chill the First Amendment freedoms of citizens, in violation of the Establishment Clause. (you can listen to a BJC podcast detailing their views on the case here.)
As you probably are aware by now, the U.S. Supreme Court is set to hear a legislative prayer case next month to weigh in on this issue for the first time in 30 years. Town of Greece v. Galloway is a case challenging the prayer policy of a city council in New York. What you may not be aware of is the content of the prayers in question in the case. It’s one thing to talk abstractly about this issue: about the constitutional and religious dangers of government prayer, whether they should be non-sectarian, whether the participating clergy should rotate, and what safeguards local governments should put in place to protect from coercion or the appearance of endorsement the citizens who have business at the meeting. It’s another thing altogether to actually listen to some of the prayers that precipitated this lawsuit. I highly recommend it.
Written by Don ByrdToday the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty joined more than 120 national, state and local organizations in calling on the Department of Justice to open an investigation into possible improper surveillance practices of the New York Police Department. In a letter to the heads of the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division, the groups argue that ten years of religious profiling and improper monitoring directed at New York’s Muslim communities jeopardize their civil rights.
Faith.
Freedom.
For All.
The targeting of religious minorities.
The rise of Christian nationalism.
The politicization of houses of worship.
BJC brings people together to tackle today’s serious threats to religious liberty.
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Faith.
Freedom.
For All.
The targeting of religious minorities.
The rise of Christian nationalism.
The politicization of houses of worship.
BJC brings people together to tackle today’s serious threats to religious liberty.